First Acknowledgment

[Steve Marcus]

Have you ever seen the tuba player receive the first acknowledgment from the conductor before all the other players in an orchestral performance, or have you as a tubist ever been asked to stand before any of your orchestral colleagues joined you on your feet? (Tuba concertos or other pieces composed entirely "for tuba and orchestra" excluded)

Here are two examples, from the sublime to the ridiculous:

1. Last night, Paul Haugan was asked to acknowledge the applause before any other players stood up after the Madison (WI) Symphony Orchestra's performance of Prokofiev 5. Paul's big warm sound was prominent and seemingly uninhibited in an acoustically tuba-friendly hall, but he blended and matched beautifully, particularly when playing in unison or in octaves with other sections of the orchestra. We know that Prok 5 has many great licks that expose the tubist, but apparently many conductors don't. Paul's recognition by the conductor and his fellow orchestra members was well-deserved.

2. In a performance of "Selections from The Wizard of Oz," I was asked to stand while playing the melody to "If I Only Had a Brain" [why is that song almost always assigned to the tuba?--Don't answer that!] and was the first orchestra player motioned to stand for the applause at the end of the medley. A dubious honor, to be sure.

[Dean E]

. . . 2. In a performance of "Selections from The Wizard of Oz," I was asked to stand while playing the melody to "If I Only Had a Brain" [why is that song almost always assigned to the tuba?--Don't answer that!] and was the first orchestra player motioned to stand for the applause at the end of the medley. A dubious honor, to be sure.

I am asked to stand during a band performance of Teddy Bear's Picnic by one of my community bands. I have received tuba section acknowledgment during finale performances of Them Basses at Army Tuba Euphonium Conferences.

[Alex C]

Acknowledging the tubist in a work where there were no 'solos,' per se, is a rare salute to great playing. That type of performance is usually overlooked. Congrats to Paul for playing subperbly and to the conductor for being aware of it.

Personally, I don't think getting a bow for a solo within a piece is all that rare an event. Whether the bow is first or not doesn't matter all that much.

[katietes]

If I recall correctly, I believe I saw Jeff Anderson at the SF Symphony get first (or close to first at least) in an amazing work by Sofia Gubaidulina a few years ago. He had a beautiful duet with the horn, and it was such a great concert.